Abstract: Electronic musical apparatus (EMA), e.g. an electronic musical instrument, has a storage area for storing a unique ID; however, unique ID is empty in the storage area in an initial condition, e.g. condition at the time of shipment from a factory. Unique ID is issued by a Web server to the EMA when a user having acquired the EMA accesses a predetermined Web site having an ID issuing function, and the EMA stores the supplied unique ID in the storage area. The Web server determines whether or not any unique ID has already been issued to a given EMA having accessed the Web site, and, if not yet issued, the Web server may automatically issue a unique ID. Alternatively, the Web server may issue a unique ID when an ID issuance request has been received from a user of the EMA. User registration operation and unique ID issuance and registration operations may be carried out together as a set of operations.

Abstract: Client is supplied in advance with a storage medium that has stored therein a pseudo display program, identical or similar to at least a portion of a display program of a Web site for selling or distributing products or information, along with URL information. The client opens or displays a pseudo Web site using the previously-supplied pseudo display program, without intervention of a network. When a desired product or information to be purchased by or distributed to a user is selected on the displayed pseudo Web site, a hyperlink connects the client to the real Web site via a network, after which the client goes forward with proceedings for purchase or distribution of the desired product or information by communicating with the real Web site.

Abstract: Various items are sold through the Internet 10 which contains a site computer 20, vendor computers 30a, 30b, factory computers 40a, 40b, dealer computers 50a, 50b, and user computers 60a, 60b, 60c. General users access to the site computer 20 to purchase items dealt in by vendors belonging to various countries using the user computers 60a, 60b, 60c connected to the Internet 10. When the site computer 20 accepts an instruction of purchasing physical items, the site computer 20 instructs the vendor computers 30a, 30b in various countries to send out the physical items to the general users. Download items which can be downloaded are downloaded from the site computer 20 to the user computers 60a, 60b, 60c. When the vendor does not have the physical items in stock, the site computer 20 instructs the factory computers 40a, 40b to make and send out the items. The site computer 20 can be accessed from a dealer computer for purchasing items.

Abstract: Various items are sold through the Internet 10 which contains a site computer 20, vendor computers 30a, 30b, factory computers 40a, 40b, dealer computers 50a, 50b, and user computers 60a, 60b, 60c. General users access to the site computer 20 to purchase items dealt in by vendors belonging to various countries using the user computers 60a, 60b, 60c connected to the Internet 10. When the site computer 20 accepts an instruction of purchasing physical items, the site computer 20 instructs the vendor computers 30a, 30b in various countries to send out the physical items to the general users. Download items which can be downloaded are downloaded from the site computer 20 to the user computers 60a, 60b, 60c. When the vendor does not have the physical items in stock, the site computer 20 instructs the factory computers 40a, 40b to make and send out the items. The site computer 20 can be accessed from a dealer computer for purchasing items.

Abstract: Electronic musical apparatus (EMA), e.g. an electronic musical instrument, has a storage area for storing a unique ID; however, unique ID is empty in the storage area in an initial condition, e.g. condition at the time of shipment from a factory. Unique ID is issued by a Web server to the EMA when a user having acquired the EMA accesses a predetermined Web site having an ID issuing function, and the EMA stores the supplied unique ID in the storage area. The Web server determines whether or not any unique ID has already been issued to a given EMA having accessed the Web site, and, if not yet issued, the Web server may automatically issue a unique ID. Alternatively, the Web server may issue a unique ID when an ID issuance request has been received from a user of the EMA. User registration operation and unique ID issuance and registration operations may be carried out together as a set of operations.

Abstract: Electronic musical apparatus (EMA), e.g. an electronic musical instrument, has a storage area for storing a unique ID; however, unique ID is empty in the storage area in an initial condition, e.g. condition at the time of shipment from a factory. Unique ID is issued by a Web server to the EMA when a user having acquired the EMA accesses a predetermined Web site having an ID issuing function, and the EMA stores the supplied unique ID in the storage area. The Web server determines whether or not any unique ID has already been issued to a given EMA having accessed the Web site, and, if not yet issued, the Web server may automatically issue a unique ID. Alternatively, the Web server may issue a unique ID when an ID issuance request has been received from a user of the EMA. User registration operation and unique ID issuance and registration operations may be carried out together as a set of operations.

Abstract: Various items are sold through the Internet 10 which contains a site computer 20, vendor computers 30a, 30b, factory computers 40a, 40b, dealer computers 50a, 50b, and user computers 60a, 60b, 60c. General users access to the site computer 20 to purchase items dealt in by vendors belonging to various countries using the user computers 60a, 60b, 60c connected to the Internet 10. When the site computer 20 accepts an instruction of purchasing physical items, the site computer 20 instructs the vendor computers 30a, 30b in various countries to send out the physical items to the general users. Download items which can be downloaded are downloaded from the site computer 20 to the user computers 60a, 60b, 60c. When the vendor does not have the physical items in stock, the site computer 20 instructs the factory computers 40a, 40b to make and send out the items. The site computer 20 can be accessed from a dealer computer for purchasing items.

Abstract: Client is supplied in advance with a storage medium that has stored therein a pseudo display program, identical or similar to at least a portion of a display program of a Web site for selling or distributing products or information, along with URL information. The client opens or displays a pseudo Web site using the previously-supplied pseudo display program, without intervention of a network. When a desired product or information to be purchased by or distributed to a user is selected on the displayed pseudo Web site, a hyperlink connects the client to the real Web site via a network, after which the client goes forward with proceedings for purchase or distribution of the desired product or information by communicating with the real Web site.

Abstract: A data transfer system is constructed for transferring data by routing from primary nodes to secondary nodes through a plurality of channels. In the system, one primary node is comprised of a setup device, a backup device, a routing device and a transmitting device. The setup device automatically tries to secure an exclusive access to a default channel which is initially allotted to said one primary node when the same sets up the routing. The backup device alternatively secures an access to a substitute channel when the setup device fails to secure the exclusive access to the default channel due to conflict with another primary node which is allotted the same default channel. The routing device circulates a message directed to a secondary node to notify thereto the substitute channel secured by the one primary node in place of the default channel, and consequently establishes the routing between the one primary node and the secondary node.

Abstract: An interface apparatus connects between a first node involved in a multimedia network which generally treats multimedia information including music information transferred in a generalized protocol, and a second node involved in an musical network which specially treats music information transferred in a specialized protocol. The interface apparatus has an input device that operates when the second node communicates with the first node for converting the music information from the specialized protocol into the generalized protocol so that the first node can admit the music information from the second node, and an output device that operates when the first node communicates with the second node for converting the music information from the generalized protocol into the specialized protocol so that the second node can admit the music information from the first node. Typically, the input device and the output device are integrated in the first node.